The Los Angeles Dodgers have been the gold standard when it comes to landing top-tier international talent in recent years. From Shohei Ohtani to Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, they’ve built a star-studded cast of Japanese talent that’s reshaping the MLB landscape. But this winter, the most sought-after name on the international market isn’t looking to join the Dodgers' growing Japanese contingent - he’s looking to beat them.
Tatsuya Imai, the 26-year-old right-hander from Japan, made it clear in a recent interview that he's not interested in joining forces with his countrymen in Los Angeles. In fact, he’s aiming to take them down.
“Of course, I’d enjoy playing alongside Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki,” Imai said during a conversation with former MLB pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka on Hodo Station. “But winning against a team like that and becoming a world champion would be the most valuable thing in my life. If anything, I’d rather take them down.”
That’s not just competitive fire - that’s a statement. Imai isn’t looking for comfort or familiarity in his move to Major League Baseball. He’s looking for a challenge.
In the same interview, Imai explained that he actually prefers not to join a team with another Japanese player on the roster. The reason? He wants to be pushed out of his comfort zone.
“If there were another Japanese player on the same team, I could just ask them about anything, right?” he said.
“But that’s actually not what I’m looking for. In a way, I want to experience that sense of survival.
When I come face-to-face with cultural differences, I want to see how I can overcome them on my own - that’s part of what I’m excited about.”
That mindset says a lot about Imai’s makeup. This isn’t just a pitcher with a strong arm - it’s someone who wants to test himself at every level, on and off the field.
He’s not chasing comfort or camaraderie. He’s chasing greatness.
Naturally, that stance narrows down his list of potential landing spots. One team that checks a lot of boxes?
The San Francisco Giants. They don’t currently have a Japanese player on the roster, and they’ve been linked to Imai throughout the offseason.
But there’s a wrinkle.
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Giants’ pitching market activity has skewed more toward mid-tier arms, not top-of-the-market names like Imai. That could suggest San Francisco isn’t ready to go all-in on the Japanese ace - at least not financially.
Still, the fit is intriguing. The Giants have been quietly rebuilding their rotation and could use a frontline starter with Imai’s pedigree. And make no mistake - his resume speaks volumes.
Imai has spent all nine of his professional seasons with the Saitama Seibu Lions, and over the past few years, he’s taken his game to another level. In 2025, he posted a sparkling 1.92 ERA across 24 starts, racking up 178 strikeouts over 163.2 innings. That’s elite production, and it’s why he’s drawing serious interest from clubs across MLB.
The Dodgers may have dominated the international market lately, but Imai’s mindset flips the script. He’s not looking to join the movement - he’s looking to challenge it. And wherever he lands, he’s bringing a competitive edge that should make any front office take notice.